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Coastguard’s national volunteer recruitment campaign is underway, and the Kawau Volunteer Coastguard is among the units needing help.
The national organisation has more than 2000 skilled volunteers ready to respond to calls for help day or night, but more are needed.
“With more Kiwis than ever enjoying life on the water, we’re on the search for new talent to ensure we can continue our lifesaving mahi long into the future,” Coastguard says.
Volunteer manager Jacqui Arnold says it doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned boatie who ventures out every weekend or someone who wants to stick closer to shore – there is a role available with Coastguard.
Across Auckland, Coastguard volunteers over the last year contributed 53,137 hours, responded to 1117 incidents and helped 3032 people get back home safely.
“Our volunteers embody compassion and camaraderie, willingly exchanging the comfort of home or paid jobs to lend a helping hand when it’s needed most,” Jacqui says.
Kawau Volunteer Coastguard has around 30 volunteers, with vessel crew the most visible.
“If you are living within 20 minutes of Sandspit and are happy to be on call – which is one week in three during your duty week – this could be something you can do,” president Paul Steinkamp says, adding that a volunteer’s work commitments are taken into account.
Full training is provided.
“It does take up a lot of your time during summer and being ‘on call’ means staying in the area ready for callouts during your duty week. We do organise cover between ourselves and people often swap so that there are sufficient people available.”
Just as important are shore-based crew, which currently includes a treasurer, fundraiser and secretary, as well as a tractor driver who helps launch and retrieve the boat.
“The advantage of being shore-based is that you don’t have to be on call and there is not the same pressure to be available for emergencies,” Paul says. “The disadvantage is that it can be difficult to understand the jargon and processes that occur on the boat. However, we will ensure you come out on the water once or twice for training sessions, to meet the rescue crew and become familiar with what happens.”
Kawau Volunteer Coastguard is fundraising for a new boat to replace its 16-year-old vessel, and would welcome volunteers willing to approach businesses and potential sponsors and donors.
“We do have a maintenance officer – however, he is also on a boat crew so has to cover two jobs. We are looking for someone who could help with boat maintenance and ensuring that all runs smoothly.”
Also helpful would be administrative support for the secretary, especially with organising and keeping records and photos and maintaining processes. A safety officer could also use help in a critical role.
Contact Paul on 027 233 2655 or Jane on 027 626 5257, and see: https://www.facebook.com/kawaucoastguard/
